How much does a Process operator, heat treatment make

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  2. Process operator, heat treatment
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Process operator, heat treatment

39 800 kr

Other machine and process operators, steel and metal

38 100 - 41 000 kr / month

Women earn 99% of what men do.

Industriell tillverkning

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Process operator, heat treatment

Average salary 39 800 kr
Males 39 900 kr
Females 39 500 kr
1 Likes 0 Comments 35 Vacant jobs ->

What does a heat treatment process operator do? – tasks and work environment

A process operator specializing in heat treatment is responsible for monitoring and controlling processes where materials, usually metals, are subjected to various heat treatments to alter their properties. Tasks include adjusting machines and furnaces, checking temperatures, following production schedules, and ensuring quality standards are met. Process operators often work in industrial environments that can be hot and noisy, which requires good safety awareness and working environment skills. Collaboration with other technicians and operators is common to optimize production and prevent operational disruptions.

Salary development over time

The salary of a process operator has steadily increased over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 36,300 SEK per month, rising to 36 900 SEK in 2023 and further to 39 800 SEK in 2024. This represents a total increase of about 9.7 percent over the period. This salary growth can be explained by increased demand for skilled labor in the industry, as well as general wage adjustments within the machine and process operator group. Technological advancements and the need for more efficient processes also contribute to higher valuation of skills in the labor market. Inflation and rising costs have likely also influenced salary adjustments.

Process operators in heat treatment often need a good understanding of metallurgy and materials science, making the profession technically challenging and requiring continuous skills development.

– statsskuld.se

Process operator, heat treatment salary – complete overview

  • Average salary: 39 800 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 38,100 SEK (female with pre-gymnasium education)
  • Highest salary: 41,000 SEK (female with gymnasium education, regional sector)
  • Hourly wage: 239 SEK (based on 166 working hours/month)
  • Gender differences: Women earn on average 39 500 SEK, which is 99 % of men's 39900 SEK
  • Regional differences: Highest salaries are found in the regional sector, while the lowest are in various sectors without a clear geographic link

Education and qualifications

To become a process operator in heat treatment, a typical requirement is a gymnasium education with a technical focus, preferably related to industry and metalworking. Practical experience from industrial environments is often advantageous and sometimes complemented with certifications in safety and machinery handling.

  • Gymnasium education: Technical program or industrial program, 3 years
  • Certifications: Safety training, forklift licenses, and machine-related courses
  • Internships: Apprenticeships or internships within industrial companies provide valuable experience
  • Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of mathematics and physics is helpful
  • Additional studies: Online courses in metallurgy or process control can enhance competence

Common benefits and compensations

Process operators in heat treatment are often offered collective agreement benefits such as occupational pension, holiday pay, and sick pay. Shift work is common, which entails overtime pay and extra compensation for evening and weekend work. Some employers also offer wellness allowances and opportunities for further training as benefits.

Competition and challenges

The profession as a heat treatment process operator involves some competition, especially in regions with many industrial companies. Challenges include staying updated with new technology and managing complex processes that require precision and responsibility. The work environment can be demanding with high temperatures and noise, requiring good health and safety awareness. Additionally, shift work can impact work-life balance.

Tips for aspiring process operators in heat treatment

To succeed as a process operator focusing on heat treatment, it is good to be precise and technically inclined, as the profession demands accuracy in controlling processes and machinery. Good teamwork skills facilitate communication with colleagues and contribute to efficient production. It is also important to have a problem-solving attitude to quickly handle operational disruptions. Flexibility is another key trait, as shift work is common and tasks can vary. Finally, safety awareness is beneficial, given the environmental risks that need to be managed.

Key facts about process operator, heat treatment

  • Education level: Gymnasium technical education
  • Salary range: 38,100–41,000 SEK/month
  • Work environment: Industrial setting with heat and noise
  • Work form: Shift work is common
  • Demand: Stable within the industrial sector

Career paths and future prospects

After 3–5 years as a process operator in heat treatment, opportunities may exist to advance to supervisor, technician, or specialist roles within process development. Some choose to further their education to engineer or technical specialist to broaden career options. According to forecasts from the Employment Service, the group of machine and process operators at steel and metalworks has a stable job market with about 1,437 job openings in 2024. Due to limited data, there is no precise assessment of the recruitment situation specifically for heat treatment operators, but overall demand in industrial manufacturing remains strong.

Frequently asked questions about process operator, heat treatment

  • What does a process operator, heat treatment earn?
    - The average salary is approximately 39 800 SEK per month with small gender differences.
  • What education is required to become a process operator in heat treatment?
    - Usually, a gymnasium technical education and practical industry experience are required.
  • Are there regional differences in salary?
    - Yes, the highest salaries are in regional sectors, while the lowest are in various other sectors.
  • Do process operators often work shifts?
    - Shift work is common within the profession.
  • What are the future prospects for the profession?
    - The profession has stable demand with several job openings, but no specific forecast exists for heat treatment.
  • What qualities are important to succeed in the profession?
    - Accuracy, teamwork skills, problem-solving, and safety awareness are key qualities.
  • Can one pursue further education within the profession?
    - Yes, opportunities to advance to technician or specialist roles with further education are available.

Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-07 19:35:17

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Process operator, heat treatment is 41000 kr. This salary belongs to a woman working in the Regional sector with a upper secondary education, maximum 2 years. The highest salary for a man in this profession is 40400 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Process operator, heat treatment is 38100 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Multiple sectors. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 38200 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 99% 30500 kr 35300 kr
25-34 100% 33900 kr 39100 kr
35-44 101% 34900 kr 40100 kr
45-54 98% 36200 kr 41100 kr
55-64 100% 36300 kr 40700 kr
Snitt 99% 34900 kr 39800 kr
* Empty columns indicate that the statistical data was insufficient to allow for a statistically significant conclusion.
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
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About the data

All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.

All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.

Profession Process operator, heat treatment has the SSYK code 8129, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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